Event No. 1 of 7 on the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT), the Roxy Pro Gold Coast hosts the world’s best female surfers in their opening stop of the season and the ASP Top 17 ramped up their respective performance levels today as the event field was narrowed down to the final eight surfers.

Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, 2011 ASP Women’s World Champion, reasserted her dominance amongst the world’s best female surfers today, posting the day’s high heat total of 18.43 out of a possible 20 for an unmatched display of forehand prowess during her Round 3 heat.“The waves are really fun out there right now,” Moore said. “All the girls on tour rip and you can see it when they’re given the opportunity in good waves. Stoked to move through to the next round in the event and hopefully the waves keep delivering.” Moore will take on Pauline Ado (FRA), 22, in the Quarterfinals when competition resumes.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 25, reigning five-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending Roxy Pro Gold Coast winner, continued her hometown run today, posting a Round 3 win and advancing through to the Quarterfinals. “No easy heats these days,” Gilmore said. “Feeling very good on the equipment and the waves have been very fun for us to start the year in. Excited to see what the coming days bring and hope I can keep progressing.”

Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), 19, 2013 ASP Dream Tour rookie, caused a massive upset today, besting her more experienced opponents in Round 3 to advance directly through to the Quarterfinals of the Roxy Pro. “Sally (Fitzgibbons) and Laura (Enever) are such good surfers so I did not take them lightly,” Buitendag said. “The waves are really fun right now though and I was able to get a couple that stood up well on the bank. It’s my first event as a WCT surfer so to be through to the Quarterfinals is a really good result for me already.”

Tyler Wright (AUS), 18, into her third year amongst the women’s elite tour and once again announced her intentions today during Round 1, posting an emphatic win to advance directly through to the Quarterfinals. “It felt good to go out there today and put in a couple good heats,” Wright said. “I felt like I surfed well yesterday but Coco (Ho) got me in Round 1 so I’m happy to get some wins under my belt today and surf well. The field is so tough now but I’m through to the Quarterfinals and I’m hoping to keep the momentum going.”

When women’s competition resumes, up first will be Tyler Wright (AUS), 18, and Courtney Conlogue (USA), 20, in Quarterfinal 1. Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.